Composition Tip

When composing, try to use a range of sounds that have different envelopes. This will give your compositions a range of different sound types, and help you to create interesting contrasts (see also: Timbre).

Original Sound

Reversed Envelope

This sound has been flipped in reverse, so the envelope is now backwards. In contrast to the original sound, we now have a slow attack, followed by a quick decay – release. (There isn’t even really any sustain at all).

Removing (or transforming) the attack portion of a sound’s envelope can help us to hide the original source of the sound, and can focus the listener’s attention on different aspects of the sound.

Extra

The shape of a sound envelope is directly related to how an object vibrates and makes sound. The properties of the object and the way in which it is encouraged to make sound will all affect the properties of the final envelope.

For example: Think of the difference in sound between plucking a string (to get a sharp, pizzicato sound) and bowing a string (to get a smooth, steady sound).

All sounds have a shape, and this shape is really important for what we hear.